Clamp attachment for bedsteads



Dec. 14, 1943. B. WANDEL 2,337,009

CLAMP ATTACHMENT FOR BE DSTEADS Filed April 28, 1942' Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNHTED STATS OFFIC 2 Claims.

This invention relates to clamps for holding bedclothes, such as sheets, blankets and the like, in place upon the mattress of a crib or bedstead so as to prevent displacement of said clothing through movements of the occupant.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved clamp of the character described which will be of simple and inexpensive construction and which can be quickly applied to, or removed from, a crib or bedstead. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character 1 indicated which can be readily applied to, and

adjusted upon, an existing crib or bedstead without requiring alteration or modification of the structure of the latter and without moving or defacing the same.

To these ends I have provided a clamp of the character described which, in its preferred form, may be constructed and operate as set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being separately pointed out and defined in the claims at the close of said description.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a bedclothes clamp constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end View of the clamp shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the clamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises an elongate arcuate cantilever arm A whereof one end is provided upon one side thereof with a pair of laterally projecting cylindroidal and relatively parallel integral abutment bars I El and I I which are spaced apart both horizontally and vertically to receive between them an upright post or bar forming part of an existing crib or bedstead, and which grip or clamp said post or bar tightly when upward pressure is imposed upon the opposite free end of said arm A. The upright bedpost of the crib or bedstead is indicated by broken lines at B in Figs. 1 and 3, while the mattress and bedclothes of the crib or bedstead are indicated by broken lines at b and b, respectively.

The abutments l and H may be of cylindrical form as shown and is preferably provided with a cylindrical jacket [2 of soft rubber tubing so as to avoid injury to the bedpost B and also to provide greater functional engagement between each abutment and the bedpost than would be the case with an un-jacketed abutment.

In order to hold the cantilever arm A against accidental disengagement from the bedpost B through sidewise displacement thereof away from the latter, I may provide the free end of each abutment I0 and H with a laterally projecting lug l3 that is parallel with the arm A and adapted to overlie the bedpost B so as to hold arm A against such sidewise displacement relatively to said bedpost. These lugs are rigidly fastened to the abutments by screws I l.

The two abutment posts I0 and H are offset both horizontally and vertically, while the device is in use, for two reasons, viz., to secure their post-gripping function when upward pressure is imposed upon the free end of arm A by the bedclothes, and also to provide a passageway between the abutments for the bedpost B when applying the device to, or removing it from, the latter. It will be clear that when the device occupies a more elevated position than that shown in Fig. 1 it may be turned or swung clockwise on a horizontal axis midway between the abutments until the passageway and bedpost are in register which places the device in a position relatively to the bedpost for removal from, or application to, the latter.

After applying the clamp to the bedpost B pressure is applied to the clamp at the point indicated by the arrow at so as to press the free end of arm A forcibly downwardy against the bedclothes and mattress thereby compressing the latter more or less, with the result that the clamp is caught and held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the clutching action of abutments Ill and Il.

As shown in Fig. 1 the free end of arm A may be made with a foot I5 having a serrated bottom edge which prevents slippage of the bedclothes.

The hubE end of arm A is preferably made with a finger lug or handle extension l6 for use in removing the clamp. When the clamp is to be removed upward finger pressure is applied to the handle It in the direction indicated by the arrow a. thereby loosening the clamp and sliding the same upwardly upon bedpost B into a position where it may be swung into a position for removal.

From the above description it will be clear that a pair of clamps constructed as above described and applied to two bedposts at one end of a crib, or bedstead, and at opposite sides thereof, will serve to hold the bedclothes securely in position. Or even better holding eifects may be secured by employing four clamps, two at the head of the crib or bedstead and two at the foot thereof.

A clamp constructed as above described may also be used to good advantage in fastening in position the mattress and bedclothes of a folding bed.

After applying the clamp to the bedpost B, said clamp may be pivotally adjusted horizontally as may be required to place the free end of the cantilever arm in the desired position.

What I claim is:

1. A clamp attachment for'bedsteads, said attachment comprising an elongate arcuate cantilever arm having adjacent to one end thereof means for separably engaging a bedpost and operable when in engagement therewith to grip the same thereby to hold said arm against displacement on said post when upward pressure is imposed upon the free end of said arm by the bedclothing, said means consisting of a pair of cylindroidal relatively parallel clamping bars projecting laterally and perpendicularly from one side of said arm and spaced apart relatively to permit sidewise entrance of the bedpost into position between said clamping bars; tubular rubber jackets mounted upon and covering said clamping bars, and lugs secured in position against the free ends of said clamping bars and projecting laterally therefrom in opposite directions so as to hold said arm against sidewise displacement away from said bedpost.

2. A clamp attachment for bedsteads constructed in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the bedpost-engaging end of the cantilever arm is made with a handle extension to which upward pressure is applied to release said arm, and wherein the opposite end of said arm is made with a foot having a serrated bottom edge for engaging the bedclothes.

BRONISLAW WANDEL. 

